Can opener



Dec 23, 1952 R. c. GABRIEL ETAL 2,622,317-

CAN OPENER Filed Jan. 16, 1950 ROBERT C. GAsRlEL FRANK C. FRIEND JNVENToRs Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED VSTATES ATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER Robert C. Gabriel and Frank C. Friend, Decatur, Ill.

Application January 16, 1950, Serial No. 138,784 4 claims. (C1. en -6.1)

comprised of a minimum number of working parts thereby producing an economically manufactured and very durable product.

Still another object is to make a can opener from parts which may be made on a mass production basis so as to further make it possible to sell the same=at a very low price.

The above and other objects of our invention will appear from the following specification in which one embodiment of the same is described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation View showing our novel can opener in full line and a can to be opened in dotted line with actuating means thereof shown in solid line in its inactive position and in dotted line in its active position to open the can.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the can opener.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 5 is a plan view partly cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the can raising plate.

Figure 7 is a side elevation view showing one of the piercing members shown supported by the main body of the can opener.

Figure 8 is a front elevation View showing the actual cutting edge of one of the piercing members.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first with particular reference to Figs. l and 2, there is shown an integrally formed C-shaped body B. This body B comprises a fiat base I!) formed with an aperture II centrally therethrough. Depending from the bottom of the base on each side of the aperture II are apertured lugs I3 and I4 respectively. These lugs are arranged so that their respective apertures are in alignment on each side of the aperture I I.

Mounted in the aperture II between the lugs is a can raising plate unit I5. This plate unit comprises a flat `disc-like portion I6, which is formed with the depending shaft II, which shaft slidably engages the aperture II, the bottom of said shaft I'I thus engaging in cam action the curved cam surface I8 of the head I8 of the lever I9 which is mounted between the lugs I3 and I4. This lever I9 comprises an elongated handle portion I9 which is curved to conform to the palm of the operators hand, and the head I8 of the lever I9 is adapted to form a can raising cam to move upwardly the plate unit I5, thus to raise the can which may be placed on the plate unit I5.

The cam head I8 and cam surface I8 curves off-center with respect to the curved axis of the operating handle I9. Through the axis of the curved handle I9' there is a transversely extending opening 2U, see Figs. 1 and 2. In this opening 2li of the cam, which is adapted to align with the apertures of the lugs 'I3 and I4 positioned on each side of the aperture Il in the base I0 there is a transverse pivot pin '2li'. The can raising plate I5 is shown separated from the rest of the device in Fig. 6 and in position to show its shank I1 in engagement with the surface I8' of the cam head I8 between the lugs I3 and I4 in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Extending vertically upward from the rear of the base IIJ is a vertical guide member 2l. The guide member 2l is curved transversely interiorly to conform to the curve of a can 22 to be opened and it is thus guided along its extended longitudinal surface as hereinafter explained more fully.

' The guide 2I is suiciently elongated to extend beyond the length of the cans 22, which are to be opened and is formed with countersunk openings 23 and 24 to receive the heads of screws for fastening the same to a cabinet, table, wall or the like. The top '25 of the vertical guide 2I forms the top of the L-shaped body B and overhangs the can supporting base I Il of the body.

This top 25 is formed with a T-head portion, each ear 26 and 21' of wh'ich supports one of a pair of can opening members 28 and 29. The can opening or piercing members may be formed from the T-head or be detachably connected as by screws 3U and 3l, see Figs. 1 and 3.

The piercing members 28 and 29 are made with cutting edges32, see Figs. 7 and 8, as shown are formed with threaded sockets for detachment if they need sharpening or replacement. Also, the rear peripheral edge of the base I0, adjacent each side of the vertical guide 2 I, is formed with a vgage flange 33. This gage flange serves to center or properly position the base of the can 2.2 on the base I0 with respect to the piercing members 28 and 29.

, Operation To pierce a can, it is placed upon the plate portion I6 of the can raising unit I5 and is pushed back against the guide 2 I. 'Ihe handle I9 is kept first in the down position shown in Fig. 1.

After the can is in position it is held pressed against the guide 2I by hand and the handle I9' is pulled up as shown in the dotted line position in Fig. 1. This causes the cam surface IS to push upward on the bottom of the shank I1 of the unit I to raise the same and project the can top into the piercing members 28 and 29. After this the can is removed in its opened or pierced condition.

Without further description it is believed that the foregoing thoroughly explains our inventionV and its novel parts, arrangement and combinations thereof. While the device has been described specically for only .one form thereof, it

being formed with an aperture, a plate mounted slidably in said aperture, a cam head pivoted to swing beneath the base and engage the plate, a handle for swinging the cam beneath the plate to act on the can to raise it to be opened by the piercing members.

y2. A can opener having a C-shaped body comprising a base, a centering ange around a part of the base, a guide extending upward at substantially right angles to the base to guide a can, and a pair of piercing members overhanging the said base, said piercing member being detachable for replacement, and plate and cam means '4 for moving a can from the base into position to be pierced by the said piercing members.

3. A can opener having a C-shaped body comprising a base, an aperture centrally through the base, a centering ange around a part of the base, a guide extending upward at substantially right angles to the base to guide a can, a pair of piercing members overhanging the said base, a plate mounted in the aperture in the base, a cam lever pivoted to the base for raising the plate to move a can from the base into position to :be pierced, said lever being curved to conform to the users palm.

4. A can opener having a C-shaped body comprising a base, an aperture centrally through the A'base for mounting a plate member, a centering Vflange around a part of the base, a guide extending upward at substantially right angles to the base Ato guide a can, a pair of piercing members overhanging the said base, a disc-like plate above the base, a depending shank centrally on the plate and adapted for sliding engagement in the aperture -in the base, an operating lever having a cam on its. upper end, said cam being positioned oir-center with respect to the axis of theA said lever and arranged to engage the bottom of the depending shank on the plate tovthereby provide for extra leverage toV raise a can to opening position. Y

ROBERT C. GABRIEL.

FRANK C. FRIEND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in Ythe le of this patent:A

UNITED STATES PA'ENTs Thomas Nov. 2341948 

